A working meeting of Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev with Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng was held in Shanghai. During the talks, the parties discussed the main areas of trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng reported that Shanghai's GDP will increase by 5% in 2024 and exceed 750 billion US dollars. Today, Shanghai is rapidly developing in five main areas, becoming China's international trade, economic, financial, port and scientific and innovative center.
During the meeting, Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev noted that Shanghai is a model of harmonious, balanced development. The "Development Program of Almaty until 2025 and Medium-Term Prospects until 2030", approved in 2022, is consistent with the Master Plan of Shanghai until 2035, adopted in 2017. Both documents are aimed at polycentric development, increasing economic stability and employment, creating a favorable environment for business and the population, and developing a safe transport system.
During the negotiations, the parties expressed their readiness to further strengthen partnership relations, in particular, to sign an Agreement on establishing sisterly relations between the two cities. This step will be a logical continuation of the Protocol of Intent signed last year, and will also open up prospects for a new stage of interaction between Almaty and Shanghai.
At the end of the meeting, the participants noted that the launch of direct flights from Almaty to Shanghai by China Eastern Airlines in 2025 would be an important step in strengthening bilateral ties - this issue is currently under consideration by the National Civil Aviation Administration of the People's Republic of China.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/almaty/press/news/details/941697